- Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
- File your Vancouver business licence ($100–$250/yr)
- Get general liability insurance
- Set your rates ($95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250)
- Build a brand, website, and online booking
- Set up card payments and simple bookkeeping
- Launch a Google Business Profile focused on Vancouver
Every city rewards a different kind of hvac business — here's what Vancouver specifically pays for. Vancouver's heat-pump conversion wave is the biggest HVAC opportunity in the region — old gas furnaces in old houses, rebate-motivated owners, and condo towers with ageing systems. The operators winning it look like established companies from the first search result.
Why Vancouver specifically
Where the work is: Offer maintenance plans on every install — recurring service revenue smooths the seasons. Neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, the West End each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.
Startup costs in Vancouver
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BC business registration (sole prop) | ~$40 |
| Name request fee | ~$30 |
| Vancouver business licence | $100–$250/yr |
| General liability insurance | $500–$1,200/yr |
| Equipment & supplies | $3,000–$8,000 (gauges, recovery unit, vacuum pump, van stock) |
| Branding, website & booking setup | $0 DIY – $3,000+ agency |
Government fees change — confirm current amounts with BC Registries and the City of Vancouver. Vancouver's business licence is filed through the City's online portal; home-based businesses are broadly permitted for service trades since clients don't visit your home.
Realistic earnings
HVAC rates in Metro Vancouver commonly run $95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250. A solo operator with a steady calendar can realistically build toward $8,000–$15,000+ per month solo with red seal or gasfitter credentials — results vary with your niche, your area, and how established you look. Refrigeration work requires certification and gas work requires a Technical Safety BC gasfitter licence — the business wrapper is what turns your ticket into a company.
Let's name it
In a market this competitive, hesitation costs you jobs — so let's kill the big one. “What if a callback or a gas issue puts my ticket at risk?” Documented scopes, permits pulled properly, insurance, and clean paperwork protect the licence you worked years for — every Prontco launch includes the agreements written right.
Talk it through on a free callTrue Cost of Launching Calculator
Before you quote your first job in Vancouver, work out what launching actually costs you — then price so the work covers it. Real 2026 Canadian rates, every source listed.
Run the numbers →Your first clients in Vancouver — the hvac playbook
- Build your Google Business Profile around heat-pump installs + your neighbourhoods — rebate-driven searches are high intent.
- Get listed as a contractor for CleanBC/utility rebate programs; the listing itself generates qualified leads.
- Offer maintenance plans on every install — recurring service revenue smooths the seasons.
The shortcut
Every step above is DIY-able if you have the evenings to spare. The alternative: Prontco builds it all in roughly 10 business days — Vancouver licence filed, brand and website live, booking and payments connected, books set up — then stays with you for 30 days of launch support. From $997, and you own everything.
Related guides
How to start a hvac business in BC · How to start a business in Vancouver · The complete BC startup guide · Free calculators & checklists